Photographer’s Journal: Fate smiles on bad luck soldier

An urgent voice interrupted the routine clamor in the medics building: “We need a medic.”

The building cleared out as everyone scrambled toward an injured soldier.

“Someone yelled ‘Man down!’ when we got out there. I didn’t know what to think,” said Pvt. Michael Poole of Creal Springs, Illinois.

“I heard a loud bang. I remember getting hit in the head. The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh shit, I’m hit.’ And then I just hit the ground,” said Pvt. First Class Justin Monson of West Milford, New Jersey, after a power line snapped above his combat outpost in southern Baghdad.

Monson, who is stationed at Ft. Hood with the 4th Infantry Division, received four staples in his head and a wicked headache. He is going to make a full recovery.

“If it wasn’t for bad luck, Monson would have no luck at all,” joked Staff Sgt. Manuel Montanez of Houston.

“How do you get hit by a power line? I don’t know, but Monson would find a way,” cracked Poole.

“Yeah, I’ve got bad luck,” deadpanned Monson. He has rolled a few ankles and had other minor mishaps during his deployment. “But some of the worst luck I’ve had has been the best thing for me.”

Monson became more philosophical when asked to ponder why the sky fell on him and he survived. Mustering a dazed smile that was equal parts head injury and enlightenment, he muttered, “Inshallaha.” Literally translated, the Arabic word means “God willing.”

Nicole Fruge

One Response

I had a childhood friend who had bad luck just like this. He was the most danger-prone person I’ve ever met. I always used to say that if I was with him, I didn’t worry about anything bad happening to me. If something bad was going to happen, it would be him.